Description

The History of J.C. Leyendecker's Honeymoon, Saturday Evening Post
cover, July 17, 1926. From The Intelligent Collector magazine
(Winter 2012/2013).

In 1932, when Margery Acciardo's mother was married in the Boston
area, the noted American illustrator Joseph Christian Leyendecker
walked her down the aisle. "My grandfather had died when my mother
was 12," says Acciardo, 76, a retired telephone company service
representative. "He was in the advertising business and he and
Leyendecker were business associates and friends. So Leyendecker
did the honors of giving her away. He'd always remained a friend of
the family."

Growing up, the bride was interested in art. "Leyendecker kind of
pushed that with her," Acciardo says of her mother. "He'd bring her
art supplies. They were close."
So it wasn't too much of a surprise when Leyendecker (1874-1951)
gave Acciardo's mother a painting he'd completed for the July 17,
1926, cover of The Saturday Evening Post. It's an opulent piece
showing a young maiden and her knight in shining armor on his
lavishly bedecked steed. The golden banner across the bottom says,
appropriately, "lune de miel" - a French phrase meaning
"honeymoon."

"This is arguably the best example of a Leyendecker Saturday
Evening Post cover to ever be offered at auction," says
illustration art expert Ed Jaster of Heritage Auctions. "The
subject matter is exquisite. Two lovers, reminiscent of Guinevere
and Lancelot, mounted on a horse adorned with full tournament
regalia, is simply a masterpiece."

Leyendecker was firmly established as a master illustrator by the
early 1930s. He completed advertising illustrations for Boy Scouts
of America, Cream of Wheat, Ivory Soap, and Cluett Peabody &
Company, among others. And his art appeared on the covers of
national magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post and
Collier's.

His piece titled Honeymoon "was in my mother's house in Rhode
Island for years and years and years," Acciardo says. "We knew it
was a Leyendecker, but we really didn't think too much about it.
Before my mother died in 2002, she gave it to me, and we had it
hanging in our bedroom. We'd go off to Florida and leave it in the
house with no insurance, no alarm ... nothing!"

When Acciardo's daughter decided to sell a smaller Leyendecker
drawing the family owned, they finally discovered the high-dollar
value of his oil paintings. When they contacted Heritage Auctions,
they were told Honeymoon could fetch more than $100,000 at auction.
"When I found out how valuable the painting was," Acciardo says, "I
wanted to get it out of here! I didn't want the responsibility. It
was part of my life. I was happy to have it. I loved it. But I
didn't want the responsibility of having something that valuable
around."

While parting with the Leyendecker piece, the family is happy to
still have the art left behind by Acciardo's mother. "I love her
stuff," Acciardo says. "I have her watercolors and oils, and I will
always treasure them."

Condition Report*:
Stretcher creases faintly visible wth associated linear craquelure; scattered faint carquelure in the white background area; UV examination reveals: scattered minor small points on in painting in white background area, most notable a 1-inch a 2-inch linear areas of in painting on the upper left stretcher edge; otherwise in very good condition. Framed to an overall size of 30.5 x 23.5 inches.

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Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation,
warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report.
Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500.
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